Liasis

Olivpython ( Liasis olivaceus )

The water pythons ( Liasis ) are a genus of snakes of the family of pythons.

Description

With 1.5 to 4 meters in length, include the water pythons to the middle-sized giant snakes. You bear teeth on premaxillary bone and the elongated head is covered with large, symmetrical shields. Part of the labials has temperature-sensitive pits. The body is roughly cylindrical in shape with generally significantly Remote Head.

The distribution of the genus extends from northern Australia over New Guinea to a number of islands of Indonesia. The animals usually settle near water, the Olivpython is however also found in dry habitats.

Species

Currently, the genus Liasis be attributed to three types:

• Olivpython ( Liasis olivaceus ) 2 subspecies: Liasis olivaceous olivaceus, Liasis olivaceus Barroni

• 2 subspecies fuscus fuscus Liasis, Liasis fuscus jackyae

• 3 subspecies: Liasis mackloti mackloti, Liasis mackloti dunni, Liasis mackloti savuensis

Some authors expect Liasis fuscus because of its similarity to Liasis mackloti.

System

Originally, the genus Liasis was significantly wider and included the white-lipped python, a part of diamond pythons, the spotted python, the python Papua and Bismarck - ring Python. Recent morphological studies led to the splitting of the genus. Molecular studies have shown that the Brown and the Timor python are related to water much closer to each other than to the Olivpython during the cleavage of the other species also from molecular genetic point of view seems to make sense, with the possible exception of the Papuan pythons.

Protection status

All species of the genus Liasis are listed in CITES Appendix II. This means that the controller must be approved the import and export of animals. Furthermore, animals must be logged located in private keeping with the competent authority (municipality and local nature conservation authority ).

See also: Classification of Snakes

Swell

• Ludwig Trutnau: Non-toxic snakes, Part 1 4th edition. Eugen Ulmer GmbH & Co., Stuttgart 2002, ISBN 3-8001-3223-0.